Florida Keys: the Overseas Highway
113 miles of bridges over turquoise water.
Three days island-hopping down US-1 — snorkeling at Key Largo, the Seven Mile Bridge and sunset celebrations at Key West's Mallory Square.
Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
A short detour into the northern Everglades gives you sawgrass prairie views and a real taste of the park without a long hike.
💡 Stop at the visitor center for a quick boardwalk trail — Anhinga Trail is flat and easy, great for gators and birds.
Everglades National Park Outstanding Florida Water, 40001 State Hwy 9336, Homestead
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
The first undersea park in the US — glass-bottom boat tours reveal coral reef and marine life without diving.
💡 Book the glass-bottom boat tour ahead — afternoon slots sell out in high season.
Key Largo
Alabama Jacks
A classic waterside seafood shack on Card Sound Road, known for conch fritters and open-air Keys atmosphere.
58000 Card Sound Rd, Key Largo
Overnight in Key Largo, FL
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Key Largo, FL · $$
Booking happens on the partner's site.
- Book Pennekamp's glass-bottom boat tour online in advance, especially in winter season.
- Fill up on gas in Florida City — stations thin out once you're deep in the Keys.
- No toll roads on this route, but Card Sound Road is a scenic free alternative to US-1.
- Robert Is Here+3 mi
Famous fruit stand near Florida City with legendary milkshakes and exotic fruit — a fun roadside stop.
- Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge+6 mi
Quiet, little-visited refuge near Key Largo good for birding and a peaceful walk.
Anne's Beach
A quiet mangrove-lined beach with a boardwalk — a lovely easy stop for shallow water views.
💡 Best visited near low tide when the sandbar is exposed.
Florida Keys Outstanding Florida Water
Robbie's of Islamorada
Famous for hand-feeding the huge tarpon that gather at the docks — a memorable, easy wildlife encounter.
💡 Buy a small bucket of bait fish at the dock to feed the tarpon.
77522 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada
Seven Mile Bridge
One of the most iconic bridges in the US, spanning open ocean between Marathon and the Lower Keys — a defining Keys image.
💡 Pull over at the Pigeon Key side for the best photo of the bridge's full length.
Florida Keys Outstanding Florida Water, Seven Mile Bridge
Turtle Hospital
A working sea turtle rehabilitation center offering guided tours — a genuine, low-impact wildlife experience.
💡 Book the guided tour ahead — group sizes are limited and slots fill early in the day.
2396 Overseas Hwy, Marathon
Overnight in Marathon, FL
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Marathon, FL · $$
Booking happens on the partner's site.
- Marathon hotels along US-1 have their own parking — no restricted zones to worry about.
- Fuel up before Seven Mile Bridge — no stations on the bridge itself.
- Anne's Beach and Robbie's Marina are both free/cheap easy stops, good for stretching legs.
- Curry Hammock State Park+5 mi
Uncrowded beach and mangrove trails, good for kite-surfers and a quiet nature walk.
- Sombrero Beach+3 mi
Local favorite beach in Marathon with calm water and picnic areas, less crowded than Keys hotspots.
National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center
Home to the endangered Key deer, a tiny subspecies found nowhere else — an easy drive-through nature stop.
💡 Drive slowly at dawn or dusk when deer are most active near the road.
30587 Overseas Hwy, Big Pine Key
Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A.
The iconic marker at the edge of the continental US — the trip's natural finish line.
💡 Go early morning to avoid the long photo line that forms by mid-day.
1400 Whitehead St, Key West
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach
A quiet beach and shaded park at Key West's tip, with clear water and a calm, uncrowded shoreline.
💡 Best swimming beach in Key West — bring your own umbrella, shade is limited.
601 Howard England Way, Key West
Half Shell Raw Bar
A casual, no-frills seafood spot on the historic waterfront, known for fresh local catch.
231 Margaret St, Key West
- Key West's Old Town has limited parking — many hotels offer free lots, check before booking.
- Mallory Square gets busy at sunset — Fort Zachary Taylor is a calmer beach alternative.
- Key Deer Refuge roads have low speed limits strictly enforced — go slow.
- Bahia Honda State Park+2 mi
Some of the best beaches in the Keys with turquoise water, right along the route before Key West.
- Blue Hole+1 mi
A former quarry turned freshwater pond where alligators sometimes appear, an easy stop in the Key Deer Refuge area.
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